Budd Lake
Martin County, Minnesota228 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Budd Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Impaired biota (cause unknown)
- 23 ft max depth
- Public access
Budd Lake in Martin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 86 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 64.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 227.91 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 26, 2024 caught 2.33 walleye per gill net at Budd Lake. DNR survey details →
Budd Lake is a 228-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Martin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 23 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 20 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Martin County, Budd Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-30. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Budd Lake covers about 230 acres in Martin County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is March 27, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Budd Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Budd Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing20 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Mar 27
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Budd Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown), nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Budd Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Budd Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Budd Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 3.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 86 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 64.1 µg/L. TSI 67.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3.2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 86µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 64.1µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 67 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Budd Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Budd Lake typically sits around 52°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Apr (about 49°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (49°F) to its warmest (80°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 111 field readings (2017–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Budd Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 26, 2024 caught 2.33 walleye per gill net at Budd Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Budd Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-04-23 (Targeted Survey).
12 surveys on file · most recent 2025-04-23 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 35.07 | 7–9 in 2024-08-26 | 0.52 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 22.41 | 8–16 in 2024-08-26 | 0.6 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 12.93 | 5–9 in 2024-08-26 | 0.26 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 6.61 | 4–7 in 1993-08-10 | 0.2 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Black Bullhead
Freshwater Drum
Yellow Perch
Green Sunfish
From the 2025-04-23 survey
Located within the City of Fairmont in Martin County, the "Fairmont Chain of Lakes" is an impoundment of Center Creek which is a tributary to the Blue Earth River and includes, from upstream to downstream, Amber Lake (182 acres), Hall Lake (548 acres), Budd Lake (227 acres), Sisseton Lake (138 acres), and George Lake…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Budd Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BuddFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BuddFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BuddPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
23 ft
Surface area
228 acres
Shoreline
2.2 mi
Littoral zone
49%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Recreation & Access
- Budd LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Budd Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Budd Lake in Martin County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Budd Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Budd Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Budd Lake
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-2.79 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+6.43 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Mar 27
Earliest Mar 1, 1987 · Latest Apr 29, 2018
Typical ice-in
Dec 2
Earliest Nov 13, 2018 · Latest Dec 19, 2015
Most recent ice-out
Mar 9
2026
102 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Budd Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Fish consumption, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN46-0030-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Budd Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Fairmont WtpFairmont · 0.4 mi away · NPDES MN0045527
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Nearby Lakes in Martin County
Frequently asked questions about Budd Lake
Where is Budd Lake?
- Budd Lake is a lake in Martin County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Budd Lake?
- Budd Lake in Martin County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 86 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 64.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 227.91 acres.
Is Budd Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Budd Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown), nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Budd Lake?
- Budd Lake typically sits around 52°F at the surface in October, from 111 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Budd Lake?
- Budd Lake has a maximum depth of 23 feet. The lake covers 227.91 acres.
What fish are in Budd Lake?
- Fish species found in Budd Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, freshwater drum, green sunfish, hybrid crappie, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, quillback, walleye, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bass, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Budd Lake is located in Martin County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Budd Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 26, 2024 caught 2.33 walleye per gill net at Budd Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Budd Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Budd Lake thaw?
- Budd Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 27. Ice typically forms around Dec 2. The open water season is approximately 250 days.
Are there boat ramps on Budd Lake?
- Budd Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Budd Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Budd Lake?
- Budd Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Budd Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Martin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
103 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA103 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 3 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by fluorometer
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate